King Kalasha's Transformation into a Tiger by Durvasa's Curse

Verse 1 (skanda.6.49.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तत्रैवास्ति महापुण्यो ह्रदतीरे व्यवस्थितः॥ कलशेश्वर इत्याख्यः सर्वपापप्रणाशनः

sūta uvāca tatraivāsti mahāpuṇyo hradatīre vyavasthitaḥ kalaśeśvara ityākhyaḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśanaḥ

Suta said: "There, established on the bank of that lake, is a most sacred Linga known as Kalasheshvara, the destroyer of every sin."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.49.2)

दृष्ट्वा प्रमुच्यते पापान्मनुष्यः कलशेश्वरम्

dṛṣṭvā pramucyate pāpānmanuṣyaḥ kalaśeśvaram

By the mere sight of Kalasheshvara, a man is freed from all his sins.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.49.3)

पुरासीत्कलशोनाम यदुवंशसमुद्भवः॥ यज्वा दानपतिर्दक्षः सर्वलोकहिते रतः

purāsītkalaśonāma yaduvaṁśasamudbhavaḥ yajvā dānapatirdakṣaḥ sarvalokahite rataḥ

Long ago there was a king named Kalasha, born of the Yadu lineage, devoted to sacrifice, a lord of generosity, skillful, and ever intent upon the welfare of all the world.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.49.4)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दुर्वासा मुनि सत्तमः॥ चातुर्मास्यव्रतं कृत्वा तद्गृहं समुपस्थितः

kasyacittvatha kālasya durvāsā muni sattamaḥ cāturmāsyavrataṁ kṛtvā tadgṛhaṁ samupasthitaḥ

Then, at one time, the most excellent sage Durvasa, having completed his four-month vow, came to that king's house.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.49.5)

अथोत्थाय नृपस्तूर्णं सम्मुखः प्रययौ मुदा॥ स्वागतं स्वागतं तेस्तु ब्रुवाण इति सादरम्

athotthāya nṛpastūrṇaṁ sammukhaḥ prayayau mudā svāgataṁ svāgataṁ testu bruvāṇa iti sādaram

Then the king rose at once and, filled with joy, went forward to meet him, saying respectfully, again and again, "Welcome, welcome!"

Verse 6 (skanda.6.49.6)

ततः प्रणम्य तं भक्त्या प्रक्षाल्य चरणौ स्वयम्॥ दत्त्वार्घमिति होवाच हर्षबाष्पाकुलेक्षणः

tataḥ praṇamya taṁ bhaktyā prakṣālya caraṇau svayam dattvārghamiti hovāca harṣabāṣpākulekṣaṇaḥ

Then, bowing to him with devotion, washing his feet with his own hands, and offering him the ritual water, the king, his eyes brimming with tears of joy, spoke thus.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.49.7)

इदं राज्यममी पुत्रा इमा नार्य इदं धनम्॥ ब्रूहि सर्वं मुने त्वं च तव कार्यं ददाम्यहम्

idaṁ rājyamamī putrā imā nārya idaṁ dhanam brūhi sarvaṁ mune tvaṁ ca tava kāryaṁ dadāmyaham

"This kingdom, these my sons, these women, this wealth -- O sage, tell me all that you need, and I shall give it to you."

Verse 8 (skanda.6.49.8)

दुर्वासा उवाच॥ युक्तमेतन्महाराज वक्तुं ते कार्यमीदृशम्॥ गृहागताय विप्राय व्रतिनेऽस्मद्विधाय च

durvāsā uvāca yuktametanmahārāja vaktuṁ te kāryamīdṛśam gṛhāgatāya viprāya vratine'smadvidhāya ca

Durvasa said: "O great king, it is indeed fitting for you to speak thus to a brahmin such as myself, a keeper of vows, who has come as a guest to your house."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.49.9)

न मे किञ्चिद्धनैः कार्यं न राज्येन नृपोत्तम॥ चातुर्मास्यव्रतोऽतोऽहं पारणं कर्तृमुत्सहे

na me kiñciddhanaiḥ kāryaṁ na rājyena nṛpottama cāturmāsyavrato'to'haṁ pāraṇaṁ kartṛmutsahe

"But O best of kings, I have no need of wealth, nor of a kingdom; I have kept the vow of the four holy months, and now I wish only to break my fast."

Verse 10 (skanda.6.49.10)

तस्माद्यत्किञ्चिदन्नं ते सिद्धमस्ति गृहे नृप॥ तद्देहि भोजनार्थं मे बुभुक्षातीव वर्धते

tasmādyatkiñcidannaṁ te siddhamasti gṛhe nṛpa taddehi bhojanārthaṁ me bubhukṣātīva vardhate

"Therefore, O king, whatever food is already prepared in your house, give me that to eat; my hunger is growing exceedingly."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.49.11)

सूत उवाच॥ ततः स पृथिवीपालो यथासिद्धं सुसंस्कृम्॥ अन्नं भोज्यकृते तस्मै प्रददौ स्वयमेव हि

sūta uvāca tataḥ sa pṛthivīpālo yathāsiddhaṁ susaṁskṛm annaṁ bhojyakṛte tasmai pradadau svayameva hi

Suta said: "Then that king himself gave him, for his meal, whatever well-prepared food was already ready in his house."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.49.12)

व्यञ्जनानि विचित्राणि पक्वान्नानि बहूनि च॥ पेयं चोष्यं च खाद्यं च लेह्यमन्नमनेकधा॥ तथा मांसं विचित्रं च लवणाद्यैः सुसंस्कृतम्

vyañjanāni vicitrāṇi pakvānnāni bahūni ca peyaṁ coṣyaṁ ca khādyaṁ ca lehyamannamanekadhā tathā māṁsaṁ vicitraṁ ca lavaṇādyaiḥ susaṁskṛtam

A variety of delicacies, many cooked dishes, food to be drunk, to be sucked, to be chewed, and to be licked, in many kinds -- and also various meats, well-seasoned with salt and the like.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.49.13)

अथासौ बुभुजे विप्रः क्षुत्क्षामस्त्वरयान्वितः॥ अविन्दन्न रसास्वादं बृहद्ग्रासैर्मुदान्वितः

athāsau bubhuje vipraḥ kṣutkṣāmastvarayānvitaḥ avindanna rasāsvādaṁ bṛhadgrāsairmudānvitaḥ

Then that brahmin, wasted by hunger, ate hastily, taking large mouthfuls in his gladness, without even noticing the taste.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.49.14)

अथ तृप्तेन मांसस्य ज्ञातस्तेन रसो द्विजाः॥ ततः कोपपरीतात्मा तं शशाप मुनीश्वरः

atha tṛptena māṁsasya jñātastena raso dvijāḥ tataḥ kopaparītātmā taṁ śaśāpa munīśvaraḥ

O brahmins, then, once satisfied, he became aware of the taste of meat; and, overcome with anger, that great sage cursed the king.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.49.15)

यस्मान्मांसं त्वया दत्त्वा व्रतभंगः कृतो मम॥ तस्मात्त्वमामिषाहारो रौद्रो व्याघ्रो भविष्यसि

yasmānmāṁsaṁ tvayā dattvā vratabhaṁgaḥ kṛto mama tasmāttvamāmiṣāhāro raudro vyāghro bhaviṣyasi

"Since, by giving me meat, you have broken my vow, therefore you shall become a flesh-eating, terrible tiger."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.49.16)

ततः स भूपतिर्भीतः प्रणम्य च मुनीश्वरम्॥ प्रोवाच दीनवदनो वेपमानः सुदुःखितः

tataḥ sa bhūpatirbhītaḥ praṇamya ca munīśvaram provāca dīnavadano vepamānaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ

Then that king, terrified, bowing before the great sage, spoke with a wretched face, trembling and deeply grieved.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.49.17)

तव क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठस्य मया भक्तिः कृता मुने॥ यथासिद्धेन भोज्येन तत्कस्माच्छप्तुमुद्यतः

tava kṣutkṣāmakaṇṭhasya mayā bhaktiḥ kṛtā mune yathāsiddhena bhojyena tatkasmācchaptumudyataḥ

"O sage, your throat was withered with hunger, and so, with devotion, I served you with whatever food was ready; why then are you now so ready to curse me for that very act?"

Verse 18 (skanda.6.49.18)

तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे भक्तस्य विनतस्य च॥ शापस्यानुग्रहेणैव शीघ्रं ब्राह्मणसत्तम

tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me bhaktasya vinatasya ca śāpasyānugraheṇaiva śīghraṁ brāhmaṇasattama

"Therefore, O foremost of brahmins, be gracious to me, your devotee, humbled before you, and swiftly grant relief from this curse, out of your kindness."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.49.19)

दुर्वासा उवाच॥ मुक्त्वा श्राद्धं तथा यज्ञं न मांसं भक्षयेद्द्विजः॥ विशेषेण व्रतस्यांते चातुर्मास्योद्भवस्य च

durvāsā uvāca muktvā śrāddhaṁ tathā yajñaṁ na māṁsaṁ bhakṣayeddvijaḥ viśeṣeṇa vratasyāṁte cāturmāsyodbhavasya ca

Durvasa said: "Except at a shraddha or a sacrifice, a brahmin should not eat meat, especially at the conclusion of a vow, and above all one arising from the four holy months."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.49.20)

उपवासपरो भूत्वा मांसमश्नाति यो द्विजः॥ वृथामांसाद्वृथा तस्य तद्व्रतं जायते ध्रुवम्

upavāsaparo bhūtvā māṁsamaśnāti yo dvijaḥ vṛthāmāṁsādvṛthā tasya tadvrataṁ jāyate dhruvam

"Whatever brahmin, while observing a fast, eats meat -- by that vain eating of flesh, his vow certainly becomes vain and fruitless."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.49.21)

तस्माद्व्रतं प्रणष्टं मे चातुर्मास्यसमुद्भवम्॥ तेन शप्तोऽसि राजेंद्र मया कोपेन सांप्रतम्

tasmādvrataṁ praṇaṣṭaṁ me cāturmāsyasamudbhavam tena śapto'si rājeṁdra mayā kopena sāṁpratam

"Therefore my vow, arisen from the four holy months, has been destroyed; and it is for that reason, O lord of kings, that I have now cursed you in my anger."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.49.22)

राजोवाच॥ तथापि कुरु मे विप्र शापस्यांतं यथेप्सितम्॥ भक्तियुक्तस्य दीनस्य निर्दोषस्य विशेषतः

rājovāca tathāpi kuru me vipra śāpasyāṁtaṁ yathepsitam bhaktiyuktasya dīnasya nirdoṣasya viśeṣataḥ

The king said: "Even so, O brahmin, put an end to this curse as you see fit, for one who is devoted, humbled, and especially blameless."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.49.23)

दुर्वासा उवाच॥ यदा ते नंदिनी धेनुर्लिंगं बाणार्चितं पुरा॥ दर्शयिष्यति ते मुक्तिस्तदा तूर्णं भविष्यति

durvāsā uvāca yadā te naṁdinī dhenurliṁgaṁ bāṇārcitaṁ purā darśayiṣyati te muktistadā tūrṇaṁ bhaviṣyati

Durvasa said: "When your cow named Nandini shows you the Linga formerly worshipped by Bana, then your release will come swiftly."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.49.24)

एवमुक्त्वा स विप्रेन्द्रो जगाम निजमाश्रमम्॥ बभूव सोऽपि भूपालो व्याघ्रो रौद्रतमाकृतिः

evamuktvā sa viprendro jagāma nijamāśramam babhūva so'pi bhūpālo vyāghro raudratamākṛtiḥ

Having said this, that foremost of brahmins departed to his own hermitage, and that king too became a tiger of the most terrible form.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.49.25)

नष्टस्मृतिस्ततस्तूर्णं दृष्ट्वा जंतून्पुरःस्थितान्॥ जघानोच्चाटितोन्यैश्च प्रविवेश महावनम्

naṣṭasmṛtistatastūrṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā jaṁtūnpuraḥsthitān jaghānoccāṭitonyaiśca praviveśa mahāvanam

Then, having lost all memory, no sooner did he see any creatures standing before him than he slew them; and, driven off by others, he entered into a great forest.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.49.26)

अथ ते मंत्रिणस्तस्य शापस्यातं महीपतेः॥ वांछतस्तस्य तद्राज्यं चक्रुरेव सुरक्षितम्

atha te maṁtriṇastasya śāpasyātaṁ mahīpateḥ vāṁchatastasya tadrājyaṁ cakrureva surakṣitam

Then his ministers, wishing for the end of that king's curse, kept his kingdom well-protected in his absence.